Transition to Clean Energy will make the U.S. Military More Efficient, Effective, and Safe

When most of us think about military operations, we think of tanks rolling across a desert, large aircraft carriers on the ocean, or long lines of Humvees in convoys. These vehicles, and their missions, take a lot of energy and are part of the large category of “operational energy use.” In fact, 75% of all military energy use is operational.

This operational energy use has created a massive dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in some unintended consequences, which:

Cause ships, planes and vehicles, like tanks, to cease operations during refueling. This takes time and keeps the vehicle from completing its mission. Fuel convoys are also prime targets for ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Bind the military to a volatile commodity with changing prices and an unstable future.

Exacerbate climate change, an issue that U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently called a “threat multiplier.” According to Secretary Hagel, climate change will influence resource competition and “aggravate stressors abroad such as poverty, environmental degradation, political instability, and social tensions.” These stressors will increase the frequency, scope, and duration of future conflicts and, by extension, U.S. military interventions around the globe.

All of these consequences pose a huge national security threat to our military overseas, a reality that’s exposed in the new film, "The Burden: Free America of Fossil Fuel Dependence." Sponsored by the Truman National Security Project, and still in the funding phase of its development (visit the film’s Kickstarter page to learn more or donate before Saturday, May 24th, when it must receive full-funding), this short film discusses the U.S. military’s reliance on traditional liquid fossil fuels and how this dependence places the United States and its military in a vulnerable position. The film aims to dismantle political rhetoric against the military’s transition to clean energy by showcasing combat veterans discussing the threat that our dependence on fossil fuels posed during their service. In short, it concludes that investing in and implementing more clean energy is a key strategy and a necessity for the armed services.

Neither domestic nor foreign oil production will cover our future defense needs; over the past decade, global oil investment has increased by 300% while the supply has only increased by 12%. Because oil is the current fuel of choice for many nations, fossil fuel shortages and price changes will cause conflicts.

The military’s dependence upon fossil fuels has to be replaced by sustainable, clean technologies that can be brought to scale.

On-site, distributed generation, such as rooftop solar and microgrids, present especially promising options for transitioning our armed forces away from fossil fuels. Microgrids are particularly well-suited for military operations because they have the unique ability to operate independently from a central electric grid and typically incorporate energy storage. They can vary in size – providing power to an entire military base or an individual camp – and enable the generation of power on-site or near where it will be used. Combining renewable energy resources with a microgrid would help prevent armed forces in combat from having to leave the base for re-fueling supply runs, which often result in death or injury to soldiers. In fact, for every 24 fuel resupply missions, one American life is lost – which constitutes one out of every eight soldiers’ deaths in Iraq. These statistics reiterate the importance of our military transitioning away from fossil fuels. Doing so will save the lives of soldiers overseas performing important missions.

Energy efficiency is another option worth noting. According to the Pew Charitable Trust, 20 percent of the Defense Department's energy consumption occurs on domestic bases, where the annual energy bill tops $4 billion. The Navy recently conducted its inaugural Fleet Energy Training Event to highlight new conservation developments and train sailors in applying best energy practices. One of the goals is to shift sailors' attitudes from "saving energy if you can" to "saving energy unless you can't." The military would be well-served to instill a similar mindset in each service member. Not only will this make a significant dent in reducing massive energy bills at domestic bases, but it will also help reduce energy use while on missions overseas and prevent the need for frequent fuel resupply trips.

The inevitable challenges of climate change present a unique opportunity for the military to lead from the front in the nation’s transition to a more sustainable, clean energy future. Doing so will improve the military’s operational efficiency, safety while fighting overseas, and resiliency during gas price hikes or shortages. And considering that the Defense Department is the single largest energy consumer in the United States, despite accounting for less than one percent of total domestic use, the military’s transition to clean, efficient, renewable energy sources will also no doubt make a significant dent in the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

About the author

Vice President, Clean Energy Jim Marston is the founding director of the Texas office of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), located in Austin, where he has served since its beginning in 1988. He is also a leader of the Pecan Street, Inc., a partnership that includes Austin Energy, the University of Texas, the Chamber of Commerce, and several large high/clean tech companies aimed at making fundamental changes in the nation's electricity grid.